Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: The Same Blood
SERIES: The Lamb and the Lion: Wolves Among Us
AUTHOR: Gregory Ashe
PUBLISHER: Hodgkin & Blount
LENGTH: 399 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 11, 2026
BLURB:
Blood will tell.
Life is better for Jem Berger. He’s got a job that he’s good at. He’s got a boyfriend he loves. He’s talking more with his mom, even though he’s not sure if he should call her mom. And there’s been no sign of the murderous pack of psychopaths Jem and Tean ran into a couple of months before.
Sure, it’s not a job he loves. And things with Tean have been…weird lately—therapy, mood swings, a growing sense of distance. And when Jem’s mom calls, it’s not like they have anything to say to each other.
But overall, things are definitely better.
Until, that is, a snowstorm traps Jem and Tean at a resort in the Wasatch Mountains, and they find themselves caught up in another murder—one in which Jem’s mom is the prime suspect. Worse, Jem and Tean discover that the resort isn’t as isolated as they thought. And someone is hunting them.
REVIEW:
Note: This book picks up after the events of the previous book, The Same Bones and they should be read in order. This is a second series with these characters and it’s recommended to read that The Lion and the Lamb books prior to this series.
Jem has a job now at a call center. He doesn’t love it – like not at all. But it’s a job and he’s contributing. Tean has continued his therapy but things still feel off. Then there is the fact that Daniel is reaching out to him but won’t actually communicate with him. Oh and his estranged mother (not that she deserves that title), Brigitte is calling him. She wants them to be “a family” she says and asks him to meet her and her husband and two young kids for a “family dinner” and he’s too tired and distracted to say no.
Jem and Tean drive up to the lodge where this dinner is going to take place. The weather is turning and they are both pretty sure this is a bad idea. They have no idea how bad it’s going to get.
The dinner does not go well. Turns out Jem’s mother’s husband does “conversion” therapy under a less ignominious name. He’s a “coach” so as not to run afoul of the law. But that’s what he does. UGH! Tean is furious. A reasonable response. Since the conversation fails, Jem and Tean decide to leave – except they can’t. The weather has really turned and they are stuck at the lodge. Not great. But they’ll make it work. Until the call from Brigitte telling them at Gerald dead. Great. Dead body. Cut off resort with only emergency power. No cops can get there.
Jem and Tean rush over and the head of security needs positive ID of the body. OK. But Tean is suspicious and it seems like it’s not a slip and fall. This means somebody killed Gerald. And nobody knows who. The couples and single men at the retreat aren’t exactly talking. There are room break-ins. And missing papers. And nobody seems that broken up about Gerald being dead besides Brigitte. Hmmmm. There is much more than meets the eye to this situation. Especially since it seems that there might be more than one culprit and that Tean and Jem are in danger as well.
Things go from bad to worse. There is a lot more danger than anyone counted on. And in the end, everything is still not resolved in the overall story arc.
Oh my! This is another crazy ride. The crossover from the last book was a little crazy on this one. As in the past book, Jem added some much needed comic relief – at least in the first half of the book. Honestly, his idea of interrogation? Hilarious. Tean is dealing with a lot of religious trauma around this tory and also upheaval in his own family. Jem is struggling with his mother’s behavior and trying not to just write her off. It’s a lot for both of them. Then there is the terror of the previous story villains. Honestly maybe don’t read this book at night alone in your bed. There are some seriously scary moments. But in expected Gregory Ashe fashion, our men survive and will be back to fight another day. They’ve been through so much, but their not done yet.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
